The Esoteric Design: Civilization Lost

by A. R. Crebs

  As it reached out with an elongated hand, the creature tilted its head and examined Euclid. A razor-like finger gently stroked the edge of the child's cheek. The thing leaned closer and hissed. Euclid stared at his reflection in the creature's black eyes. A series of whispers hummed in the boy's mind, telling tales of the future to come, laughing about powers to be had, tempting with a desire to know more. The deep hum grew louder in volume, and suddenly the ground was shaking. Just as the being was about to reach out with a second hand, it twisted its head to the side and howled. The sound was painful to their ears and broke Euclid from his trance. He quickly sat back and covered his ears like Dovian.

  The entire portal lit up with blue light, and the creature burst into dust, its howls diminishing with the wind. In another second, a man in golden robes shielded the boys, and the gateway immediately closed. Elder Gaius twirled to face the two young children, his eyes white with electricity. Reaching out, the book in Euclid's lap flew into the giant man's hands. He promptly locked it, cast a secondary spell over it, and pocketed the item within the confines of his overcoat.

  "And how could you have possibly gotten your hands on something like this?" his deep voice echoed in warning.

  Next, he reached to the side, and the frequency tuner slid from the boy's bag and into the older man's possession. Sir Gaius was menacing, appearing unlike Dovian had seen before. The Elder watched the boys a moment. Letting his harsh features relax, he took a calm breath and gave a gentle smile. His eyes faded to a pale blue.

  "I'm sure your father knows nothing about you having his tuner," Gaius quietly stated, his attention directed at Euclid.

  The boy shook his head dismally.

  "And I'm sure you know that stealing is strictly forbidden, especially from my chambers," Gaius continued, gesturing to the book in his robes.

  Euclid nodded. "I, I wasn't stealing. I was borrowing."

  Gaius exhaled aloud. "One asks to borrow. One who takes in silence is often stealing."

  Euclid lowered his head and stared at his hands.

  "What...what was that?" Dovian finally asked.

  Gaius moved only his eyes toward his great-grandson. "Something you should most definitely not be dealing with, especially on this plane." The Elder suddenly sniffed the air. "Dovian, I do believe your mother has made brownies."

  Dovian nodded quickly. "She has, sir."

  Gaius smirked. "But I also smell ice cream and hot fudge. Perhaps you boys would much rather have sundaes instead of trouble, hm?" Euclid raised his head, looking to Gaius. The man nodded at the boy. "Go on, the both of you. But, no more of this spell work, you understand?"

  The children slowly bobbed their heads.

  "Great. I will be returning the missing items before I visit with your parents. You both delight yourself with treats in the meantime."

  Euclid and Dovian bowed reluctantly.

  "You had better hurry. I heard your grandfather was visiting as well, Dovian, and we both know how big he and your father's appetites are!"

  Dovian smiled and grabbed Euclid's hand. "He's right! Let's go!"

  Together, the two boys ran down the hill toward Dovian's home. Gaius' smile quickly dispersed. Eyeing the book in his coat pocket, the Elder tightly locked his jaw.

  "And what seeds have already been sown?" He looked to the towering cathedral of the Gaius complex.

  Dovian and Euclid chased each other through the cathedral, each one taking turns hiding behind pillars and trying to scare one another. Their shrill laughter alerted Elysia. Her head popped out of the kitchen, and she looked down the corridor.

  "Dovian? Is that you?" she called out.

  "Yes, mama! And Euclid!" he replied.

  "And Orin?" she asked, pulling back into the kitchen.

  "Nope! He had to go home!" Dovian stated as he slowed to catch his breath.

  Elysia frowned. "Oh, pity. I guess that means more for you boys!"

  Dovian eyed the dessert tray and then the empty seats along the island. "Where's dad and grandpa?"

  Elysia wiped her hands on a towel. "Oh, they are in the conference room. They have a meeting. You boys can eat in here, though. Dinner isn't quite ready, so I figured we could have dessert first for a change." The children looked delighted.

  The woman gave each boy a bowl of creamy vanilla ice cream. A warm, fudgy brownie sat at the bottom. Whipped cream decorated the top, swirled with hot fudge, and red cherries. Elysia delivered a few bowls to the meeting room and promptly returned to the kitchen and kept a watchful eye on the children. The Elder Gaius had returned to the conference room while she had been visiting and announced the news to her and the other Gaius men of Euclid and Dovian's misadventure. It frightened her nearly to death. Though she trusted Sir Gaius with all of Ives, Elysia still couldn't help but keep a paranoid eye on the shadows while the children ate. Their constant giggling, however, slowly calmed her nerves.

  "Check it out," Euclid snickered. The boy made himself a mustache out of fudge. "You like my stache?" he asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

  Dovian giggled and did the same with some whipped cream. Dabbling a bit on his chin, he wrinkled his face. "How do I look?" he asked with a deep voice.

  Euclid laughed. "You look old!"

  Elysia finally giggled as well. "I'm going to have to hose you boys off once you've finished!"

  The sound of a door closing silenced their joyous laughter. Heavy footsteps moved down the hall toward them along with the clanking of armor. Dovian's amused expression flipped into one of worry. His father turned into the kitchen, his fingers at work tightening his chest plate.

  "You're leaving?" Dovian asked.

  Gaius III’s eyes flew to his. "Yes, I am." Clearing his throat, he eyed his wife and then Euclid. Gaius II peered in from outside the hall. He, too, was decked out in full body armor. He wiggled his fingers at the boys. "Nothing more than a routine mission."

  Dovian's eyes creased with sadness. "You're always gone."

  Euclid swirled his spoon in the remains of his dessert. "My dad is always gone, too."

  “And he will be with us on this mission as well. Elysia?” Gaius III gave her a knowing look.

  “Ah, of course. Euclid, you will be staying with us while your father is gone.”

  “Sleepover!” Dovian cheered. “Maybe Orin can stay over too?”

  Euclid’s expression remained grim.

  Dovian's father gently slid on his golden helmet. The metal guarded his nose and cheeks. Tall red feathers decorated the top, trailing down his back. His scarlet and gold cape pinned to his shoulder piece so not to drag. His staff was collapsed and at his hip. Gaius III was a champion fighter, light on his feet and agile. Dovian always got goosebumps seeing his father in full armor. He only hoped someday he could appear as ominous.

  "There is always war, boys. And though we can't directly interfere, we can mediate before things get out of hand," his father said.

  "Why can't we just defeat them all? Keep them from fighting in the first place?" Euclid spoke again. "If we ruled over them, they wouldn't be able to kill each other. We don't kill each other; why do they?"

  The adults exchanged glances. "Because they are not meant to be slaves.”

  Euclid frowned, glaring at his melted ice-cream.

  Dovian pondered much in the same way as the other boy. "Why do we help them if they never stop fighting?"

  His father took a deep breath. "You boys are still far too young. One day, you'll understand. For now, you worry about your melting ice-cream."

  He eyed Elysia once again. She gave him a half-hearted smile and kissed him. "Be safe."

  He gave her a crooked smirk. "I'll be back by morning."

  With that, Gaius III pointed at the two boys and demanded that they behave. He turned on his heel, nodding to his father, and the two soldiers strode out of the home for their mission while the Elder remained in the conference room. Elysia pursed her lips, feeling a bit anxious. A sudden laughter returned her attention to Dovia
n and Euclid. The boys had proceeded to draw tattoos on their faces and were currently smudging chocolate on their eyelids.

  "Boys! For the love of God! What am I to do with you?" Elysia scolded.

  "Planting the Seed”

  Chapter 3

  2,848 S.F.

  Since the year that marked the Second Fall, humanity struggled with peace. In the beginning, the Sorcēarians brought hope to the people of Earth. The new race was praised, accepted with open arms. Together, humanity and the Sorcēarians formed the World Council. Monthly meetings held between the world's leaders helped keep war at bay, and in the event of war, kept things from getting too nasty. However, as the years passed, world leaders began to feel animosity toward the Sorcēarian race. The foreign beings had land rich in resources, a peaceful society full of healthy citizens and advanced technology. Humanity began to envy the angelic race. Some countries split from the World Council, feeling that the Sorcēarians favored certain nations over others. Thus, Sir Gaius often struggled to mediate between the lands. Peaceful negotiations were soon impossible, and the Elder was forced to choose sides in battle—those he felt were the lesser evil. It further fueled the separation of man, and soon, Sorcēarians became targets on the battlefield.

  Despite the rules of war, Sir Gaius found it impossible to tame humanity by any means outside of his powers which went against his divine purpose. His people eventually became causalities, and a sad realization surfaced. Sorcēarians, though immortal, could perish in ways much like humans could—through severe trauma, obliteration, and decapitation. As punishment for their divinity, the angelic race usually met their demise in violent and devastating ways, most often in war. Ironically, the sole purpose of the Sorcēarian race was to save and protect humankind, and humankind was the number one cause of Sorcēarian deaths.

  "Yes, I am sure. It has been a long time, but I'm beginning to get restless. There have been many killed in this war, and I can't help but feel somewhat responsible for not being out there and helping." Elysia tightened her robes. She wasn't wearing her usual garb, but rather her white and red medic attire.

  "You cannot blame yourself for their deaths, Elysia. You have your own life to live and a small child still," Sir Gaius spoke uneasily. "I would completely understand if you held off on your duties for a further time, if not retired completely from your position."

  Elysia tugged on her gloves, the tips of her fingers poking out to allow energy release. "Retire?! Me? Am I so old?"

  Sir Gaius shook his head. "Most certainly not, but you have done your duty for nearly a thousand years. Don't you think it's time to take a break? For Dovian?"

  "I've taken a long enough break, twenty years in fact. Dovian has grown to be a fine young man. I think he can handle my absence for a few days." The woman reached into her armoire, gathering her helmet. She smiled at her reflection in the silver metal. Softly, she ran her fingers over the wing engraving on one side. A cross decorated the center; the tail would cover her nose. "You worry too much," she whispered.

  Sir Gaius stepped forward, placing his hand on hers as she reached for her chest plate. Elysia brought her eyes to his. "Is it not natural for me to worry about my grandson's wife?"

  "Why worry about me now?" she asked.

  "I've always worried, my dear. I worry about each and every soul on this island, but those who are closest to me I worry about the most. And your husband will not do well to hear this news; you know that." He slowly retracted his hand.

  "My husband," Elysia scoffed as she slid on her armor, "will have to learn to let go of his fears. Since our first son died...."

  Sir Gaius sighed. Elysia quickly shrugged and continued dressing.

  "Gaius has prevented me from doing my responsibilities as often as I wished to. And I've not been out on the field since my pregnancy with Dovian. I have a duty as a citizen of Ives to protect humanity. If I can save a few more lives today, then I will be satisfied." Gathering her medical box, Elysia whispered a spell. The container had remained linked to her and housed her power. She smiled. Turning to Sir Gaius, she huffed a breath. "I'm the best healer there is! You know I am a valuable asset. Please let me help, if only for one day."

  "Elysia, this war has gotten completely out of control. The medical facilities are all full. The city is devastated. Children and man alike are getting slaughtered. They spare no one." The Elder's tone was severe. “We’ve lost many of our own. Too many to admit.”

  "I know this. And the longer I wait, the more children die. The longer I sit here, in this beautiful city, another is being demolished. If I can nurse the men back to health, their military numbers can rise again, and hopefully, they can push the enemy back." The woman finalized her preparations.

  "You're a stubborn, brave woman, Elysia.” He pulled her into a hug.

  "And you knew, long before this moment, that I would be going out there. So, any words you speak you know are useless."

  "Doesn't mean I shouldn't try. It at least eases my heart some.” Sadness filled his eyes, and Elysia couldn't help but feel uneasy in that moment.

  "Well, I best be off...before I have second thoughts." She pulled away from the older man.

  "Your husband will wonder about you," he added.

  "I will leave him a message. Please let him know of my whereabouts as soon as he arrives home." Elysia stopped at the door to her room and looked over her shoulder. "Tell him to watch over Dovian while I'm gone."

  Sir Gaius nodded firmly. "The boy will have all our eyes on him."

  Elysia smiled. "Still not enough, but it'll do."

  The woman took her leave, not catching the man's despairing look. He placed his hand over his mouth, whispering a spell. Slowly, he kissed his fingertips and sent it riding in the breeze toward her. Blue light washed over Elysia from down the hall, and she gave a sharp intake of breath, tears threatening to spill from her eyes.

  "Just a routine mission," she whispered.

  She would have left at that moment by use of her tuner, but she had one more thing to do. Swiftly, she made her way out the side door near the kitchen, the sunlight harsh compared to the darkness of her home. A cool wind danced around her, and she could smell the flowers and water from the silver lakes. Placing a hand over her brow, Elysia looked to the sky, searching for a familiar silhouette. After a moment of looking at the clouds, she caught sight of a cumulonimbus swelling on one side. The cloud burst outward with a long white streak; a shadowy form spiraled in circles, dived low to the lake, and kicked up a large wave.

  "Dovian!" Elysia shouted.

  The shadow shoved high into the air, giant wings flapping. In a flash, the form plunged down toward her, a second form quickly following the same path.

  "Mother!" Dovian shouted, landing harshly on the grass in front of her.

  "Ah! The things you do to my garden," Elysia huffed.

  Dovian rubbed the back of his head. He was twenty years old but didn't look much older than a fourteen-year-old human boy. He wore black robes with a red sash, currently training to become a Scarlet warrior like his father. Snow-white wings arched from his back. As he slowly walked toward his mother, one stretched out to the side. The young man suddenly looked concerned.

  "You're in armor?" he asked.

  "That I am," she replied, raising her chin ever so slightly.

  Dovian's brow wrinkled. "But why?"

  The second boy crashed into the lawn beside the pair. "Lady Elysia!" Orin shouted with his arms held out to the side. He quickly hugged the woman and swayed her from side to side.

  "Oh my, Orin! How big you grow each day!" she exclaimed, giggling in the boy's embrace. He was almost the same age as Dovian, yet nearly a foot taller. His sandstone eyes swirled as he inspected the woman.

  "You're going out?" he asked. "Don't tell me...."

  "Mother. Where are you going?" Dovian asked, a bit impatient.

  Elysia swallowed hard. "To the Middle East."

  "No...Ma! You don't mean—" Dovian shook his head.<
br />
  "The Israeli area. Russia is relentless. They have completely wiped out numerous artifacts. They've infiltrated the city. People are dying by the masses. They are performing genocide as we speak. I have to go out there. They need me."

  As she spoke, Dovian shook his head. "No. Ma. You can't. You've not been out there in...."

  Elysia giggled and cupped her son's face. "My poor little boy! You've not been one day without me, have you? I certainly have spoiled you, haven't I?"

  Dovian hugged her. "I don't mind being spoiled. I'd much prefer you always to be here. Don't they have enough of our medics out there?"

  Elysia ran her fingers through her son’s hair. "They have many, but none are as good as I am."

  Orin folded his arms. "Your mother is right. She is the best healer in all of Ives. If she could lend a hand, she could save many. Heck, she may even be able to resurrect the city!"

  "Well, I don't know about resurrecting but nurse back to health, you bet I can!" Elysia laughed.

  Dovian eyed his mother. "But...ma...it's been so long."

  "It's not been that long! Don't make me feel older than I already do! I've taken twenty years away from my duty. To you, that's a lifetime. To me, it's been a week's vacation. Just a little stretching, and I'll be good to go!" She winked.

  "Ma," Dovian sighed.

  "I nursed you back to health," she retorted. "Why, you couldn't even cry! Poor thing."

  Dovian eyed Orin. The boy chuckled at him. "Shh, ma...please," Dovian whispered.

  Elysia grabbed him by the shoulders. "You listen here, boy."

  His blue eyes trailed over her face, locking onto her green ones.

  "It's only for a few days. I've got stew prepared. It should last you a couple of meals. There are cookies in the cupboard. Feed the babies while I'm gone. I've got jerky and albatross eggs stocked up. Don't forget," she instructed.